Disclaimer: Don't rub it in... *sobs* I don't own Harry Potter...
This takes place in the Marauders' sixth year. So far, everyone is still sixteen except for Sirius (meaning James, Remus, Peter, Lily, and Severus) who is seventeen. Just thought you'd want to know!
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"Aw, come on Wormtail, you aren't going to spend Christmas at my place?"
"Sorry Prongs, my parents want me home for Christmas."
Two short teenagers were talking in the Gryffindor common room – one had messy dark hair and hazel eyes behind frames, the other had light brown hair and watery blue eyes. They were both handsome in their own ways, although one was much more popular and talented than the other.
James Potter had invited his friends – Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew – over to his house for Christmas break. He even took a chance with Lily – not that it turned out well. While Sirius and Remus both accepted, Peter couldn't come.
Sirius chose that moment to jump in through the portrait hole, his long dark hair flying out behind him, "Hey Prongs, Wormtail. Have you seen Moony? We're leaving soon."
James flicked his head towards the stairs leading to their dorm, "It's nearly that time of month Padfoot, he said he wasn't feeling well. When is the full moon, exactly? Next week?"
They heard a hoarse cough behind them, "Actually, three days." And as if on cue, Remus came down the stairs, with his caramel hair just covering his eyes, looking pale and slightly green, but otherwise normal, but then he had a coughing fit before recovering.
Sirius knitted his eyebrows together, concern playing across his seventeen year old face, "Are you okay Remus? You really don't sound well."
He took a step towards him but Remus shoved him away, "Don't worry 'bout me Sirius, I'm fine. Just pre-full-moon, right?"
Sirius looked skeptical, "Right…"
"Well…" James started, looking at his friends with slight amusement, "Padfoot, you said we were leaving soon?" He flicked his head towards the bottom of the stairs, which was covered in their luggage.
Sirius nodded, "Yep Prongs, we're leaving. Now. Dumbledore says the trunks'll arrive at around supper. He's waiting for us right now. I think in his office, he said he wanted a word with the three of us… Probably about Moony's 'furry little problem', am I right?" They all muttered agreement.
…
Five minutes later, the three mischievous boys were up in Dumbledore's office.
"What precautions have you taken to ensure the towns safety on the night of the full moon?"
James sighed. It wasn't as if this was the first time they had gone over this, it must've been near the fifth or six, "Again, Headmaster, we – and by we I am also including my parents – have taken a lot of precautions to make Christmas safe. There is a rather big forest out back, we plan to go hang out in there. And of course, Sirius and I have been working on our animagi forms, we have them down, we'll be large enough – and entertaining enough – to keep Remus sane. Can we please go now?"
Albus Dumbledore smiled gently at the impatient youth, "Of course James… but if any problem arises, alert us immediately. Whether it is lycanthropic or… matters concerning Voldemort."
Not one of the three flinched.
"Well… that is all… I will be seeing you once break is over. Merry Christmas."
And with that, each boy took their turn stepping into to fire, and they were whisked away to the home of the Potters.